Play Book Tag discussion

We have changed the voting a bit this month so please read the survey instructions a little more closely than you usually do.

You will be asked to cast a second choice vote which will be used in the final determination of the winner. The second choice vote will only come into play if none of the tag options achieve more than 50% of the votes cast.

We made this change in response to feedback about the length of time it was taking to reach a final determination of the tag. We hope this new method ensures the tag will be selected by the deadline date.

Please vote for the tag you would most like to read for November at the following link:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VRLTF9N

You may click on the answer choices in the survey to see a listing of books that fit each tag.

Remember, you may cast up to a total of 10 participation points for your choice. Everyone gets one vote for free so please vote even if you don't have any participation points!

You can see how many participation points you currently have in the spreadsheet below.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Happy voting! Please cast your votes by 12 pm EST on 10/22.

Voted.

Going to have to looks at the lists-I know High Fantasy won't win around here, so I won't waste my vote (as she sniffles and a tear drops). "Fun"- wow, talk about a broad topic!

Going to have to looks at the lists-I know High Fantasy won't win around here, so I won't waste my vote (as she sniffles and a tear drops)

That "Fun" list? Geez-really? In Cold Blood, Middlesex,Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster????? and those are on the first couple pages...........

Joanne, I was going to ask you what the hell high fantasy is? I haven’t had a chance to research yet. I have to tell you, lotta people in this group like fantasy. I assumed that would be the one that would win. Funny enough, I haven’t done any research yet as I have said, but I immediately thought of two books on my TBR for each of the other proposed tags. I didn’t even have to look. Funny how we know our immediate TBR’s so incredibly well, that the title is just spring to mind without any obstacle.

High fantasy is sword and sorcery type stuff. Tolkein, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, George R. R. Martin are all good examples of authors of these types of books.

If it fits, now would be a great time to mention that Tethered Mage Series that I have been talking about. Thanks, Sara.

This short wikipedia definition is quite on point: "High fantasy is set in an alternative, fictional ("secondary") world, rather than the "real" or "primary" world."

The main point here being "secondary fictional world"

This means that fantasy where the magic is part of the "real" world (like Harry Potter) is not high fantasy (called low fantasy). This distinction between high and low fantasy doesn´t take portal fiction (like Narnia) into account, but many would say this is high fantasy as well, because the main part of the books take place in a secondary world entered through a portal.

High fantasy is often used interchangeably with epic fantasy, and even though it´s not exactly the same, epic fantasy is mostly always also high fantasy. (Think Tolkien etc.).

But, also according to this definition, Sarah J. Maas´ books are also high fantasy for example (if you need something lighter than Tolkien or shorter than mr. Martin)

here is a list: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...

Amy: I haven´t read the Tethered Mage Series, but it certainly looks as if it fits :)

Johanne wrote: "This short wikipedia definition is quite on point: "High fantasy is set in an alternative, fictional ("secondary") world, rather than the "real" or "primary" world."

The main point here being "cl..."

As an Epic and High Fantasy reader, I laugh at Sarah Maas'-
(not at you Johanne!) being considered "High"- YA genere, IMO does not fall into High Fantasy. But that's just me-

As Sarah mentioned: Tolkein, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, George R. R. Martin- And these authors: Raymond Fiest, Joe Abercrombie, Terry Brooks, Jacqueline Carey, Kate Elliot, Robin Hobb, N.K. Jemisen, Mercedes Lackey....I could go on, but I won't 😁

Yeah, I know, but it is high fantasy according to this definition (and it´s on the list).
We can call it "high fantasy light" :)
I think there is also a problematic devaluation of low fantasy, seeing as it´s not as "epic", "highbrowed" etc. but I don´t agree that it´s necessarily easier to write low fantasy, or that it is less literary.

But I could talk for a loooong time about different definitions of genres and subgenres, fantasy, what constitutes a "real" world, boundaries of secondary worlds and on and on :)

Thank you for that definition, Johanne. I always think of high fantasy as "world-building". They have to build an entirely new world.

So before anyone asks, that means that Outlander is NOT high fantasy. It's barely Fantasy IMO - just has sprinkles of it and is mostly historical fiction. Although I have no doubt that someone somewhere did tag one or more of the books as high fantasy LOL.

I'm gonna throw my vote out without research and I think I will go high fantasy. Not really my favorite genre but I want to branch out.

Voted. I would enjoy any of these great choices.

Joanne wrote: "That "Fun" list? Geez-really? In Cold Blood, Middlesex,Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mount Everest Disaster????? and those are on the first couple pages......."

LOL my husband asks, "Who is the closet serial killer who tags these fun?"

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "Thank you for that definition, Johanne. I always think of high fantasy as "world-building". They have to build an entirely new world.

So before anyone asks, that means that Outlander is NOT high ..."

Yep, the first Outlander is on the list!

Joanne wrote: "Going to have to looks at the lists-I know High Fantasy won't win around here, so I won't waste my vote (as she sniffles and a tear drops)

That "Fun" list? Geez-really? In Cold Blood..."

Geez That list is unbelievable! A Thousand Splendid Suns Is one of my favorites but I ‘d hardly call it fun. Maybe they meant reading for fun versus reading for work or school?? There are a lot of really good books there, along with light stuff, and heavy, dark, depressing
books.

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "Thank you for that definition, Johanne. I always think of high fantasy as "world-building". They have to build an entirely new world.

So before anyone asks, that means that Outlander is NOT high ..."
A few of them might fit American history.

Since were talking directly about the topics, two people have recommended to me the new book “The a Most Fun I Ever Had” and it’s on my real TBR. Also, American Princess has been on my shortlist, Like I have it out of the library and I’ve had it out of the library for three months running, and if American History wins that is my pick. Those I can share even without research. Although I would say if American history wins I would highly recommend Americas first daughter, which I loved and put in my top 10 that year. And for those who are doing pop sugar And need a book written by two authors there you go. But I still have to do research. And I better find a good fitting fantasy book just in case.

I also thought Fun would be like fluff. Like a crazy Rich Asians, which I considered a poolside read. Or like 800 grapes. Meaning nothing too literary. The sequel to crazy Rich Asians is on my TBR, china rich girlfriend. And I would consider that fun, but my only trouble is it’s on my trim. So it’s off-limits unless it’s number gets picked!

NancyJ wrote: "Doughgirl5562 wrote: "Thank you for that definition, Johanne. I always think of high fantasy as "world-building". They have to build an entirely new world.

So before anyone asks, that means that ..."

Yup - Outlander series Books #4-8 would fit American history as they are set in colonial America.

Finally voted! Fun is just too easy & I would struggle choosing from my choices, so went for the narrower tags, but high fantasy just tops American history as I tend to read a lot of fantasy anyway so there's more on the tbr!

Half-heartedly voted for high fantasy and will be pleasantly surprised if it wins since more speculative genres don't really fare well in votes. I like the run-off voting option, particularly being able to designate a separate number of points if it comes down to it. Great idea!

The America history list includes a lot of good historical fiction as well as The Library Book, The Woman's Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote, and several books on my trim list. There are also a few good books for the November holidays there

I need to really cut back on my reading and goodreads time, and catch up with some important projects. So I’d better stop researching and reading lists before I go down another rabbit hole.

If high fantasy wins, I will need some strong recommendations for a good adult stand alone book. I don’t want to be tempted to finish a trilogy.

Thanks for the new voting procedures!

I can easily read for any of these, but high fantasy would give me the excuse to finally get to The Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss!

I'm going to throw some extra votes at high fantasy. I have been reading the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas and still have three left. I'm planning to read #5 Empire of Storms in November, no matter what tag wins.

I'm happy with anything on that list but I did vote for just the two. Good idea to the back up vote right up front. Congratulations on coming up with such a lovely solution.

On second thought, I really really need some fun reading. I’ve read some deep and depressing books for the last two months and I need to lighten up. David Sedaris,, Young Jane young, Wundersmith, maybe even Harry Potter or romance.

NancyJ wrote: "If high fantasy wins, I will need some strong recommendations for a good adult stand alone book. I don’t want to be tempted to finish a trilogy...."

It took some doing to find a few fantasy standalones, but here goes:

Uprooted
Spinning Silver
The Forgotten Beasts of Eld
Stardust
The Last Unicorn
The Hobbit or There and Back Again
The Silmarillion (but not recommended unless you want a heavy read!)

Gave high fantasy everything I've got (within the rules). What the heck. :)

This is another situation where there is decent feedback people are voting in my favor but where I am not confident about the actual outcome (high fantasy).

Meli wrote: "This is another situation where there is decent feedback people are voting in my favor but where I am not confident about the actual outcome (high fantasy)."

Exactly. Here, pull up a chair.

1984 was on the fun list. Yep. Laugh a minute, that one.

I am truly fine with all three. Lots of options everywhere. Voting right now.

Voted and I think the new voting option is a great way to handle things if one tag doesn't get 50% of the votes. Great solution moderators!

Glad people are happy with our voting solution. I think it is going to work! Thank you for the kind comments.

Oh yeah, I second, third or fourth or whatever the new voting scheme. Very clever and thank you for spoiling us :P

Nicole R wrote: "I can easily read for any of these, but high fantasy would give me the excuse to finally get to The Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss!"

Me too - although I think that's sitting on my Trim list....

Or maybe The Lies of Locke Lamora - hmmm or is that also on my Trim list? It's also the discussion book in early November of the Feminerdy Book Club at The Astoria Bookshop in Queens - women who read fantasy, and discussions from a feminine POV. I'm not a big fantasy reader, but I go when it's a book I've read (Game of Thrones) or want to read (Lies of Locke Lamora). A month or so ago they did Soulless but I was away.

Theresa wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "I can easily read for any of these, but high fantasy would give me the excuse to finally get to The Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss!"

Me too - although I think that's s..."

Been waiting to read The Lies of Locke Lamora-but it is on my trim....

Voted.

Joanne wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Nicole R wrote: "I can easily read for any of these, but high fantasy would give me the excuse to finally get to The Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss!"

Me too - although ..."

Just checked my Trim list - The Lies of Locke Lamora is NOT on it! That would fit High Fantasy and Fun, both I think. For me, at least.

My thoughts exactly Theresa, the Lies of Locke Lamora is both fun and high fantasy :) (I haven't checked tags though). Maybe I sold read the second book in the series (but that is on my trim I'm pretty sure...)

*should* not sold. Damn autocorrect on my phone.

Alright then-I am in to throw it all in for High Fantasy.

Amy, I think you might like

Assassin's Apprentice byRobin Hobb

The Eye of the World by Robert
Jordan

Sheepfarmer's Daughter by Elizabeth Moon

If (and I think that's a big IF) it wins I will give you some more-be aware most High Fantasy are Big books and or series-i will look for some that are not

Nicole R wrote: "I can easily read for any of these, but high fantasy would give me the excuse to finally get to The Wise Man's Fear by Rothfuss!"

I love this series....but the wait for book 3 has me really angry....as I said before, I think GR Martin and him are having a secret affair and having too much fun to break away and finish their darn books!

annapi wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "If high fantasy wins, I will need some strong recommendations for a good adult stand alone book. I don’t want to be tempted to finish a trilogy...."

It took some doing to find a few..."

I second Uprooted and Amy this would be perfect for you

This solution is a wonderful one, Anita! I’m excited for any of the choices, because I have plenty that fit all the tags.

Underwhelmed once again .... voted. Great solution to have a second choice right from the get-go....

I voted. I can make any of these work.

After looking at books tagged as "High Fantasy", I realized I'm more of a "Low Fantasy" girl. LOL

Sara wrote: "High fantasy is sword and sorcery type stuff. Tolkein, Robert Jordan, Brandon Sanderson, George R. R. Martin are all good examples of authors of these types of books."

That's what I thought. It's what I call "epic fantasy" or "traditional fantasy". Oh, I sooooo hope this isn't the one!